Apparatus and method for facilitating a purchase using information provided on a media playing device

• US 8,078,097 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Poltorak Media LLC (General Patent Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alexander Poltorak
• Inventors: Poltorak, Alexander I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun B
• Application Number:
  US12/881,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20110023058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/3.01, 455/3.06, 455/3.04, 455/66.1, 455/412.1
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/30 characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/37 via a different channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 : specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 : Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 : Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82

Abstract

Disclosed are apparatus and method for facilitating a purchase in conjunction with media content information. The apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive a transmission of media content, information regarding the content, and information for facilitating a purchase of at least one of a copy of the content, a good, and/or a service. The content may include broadcast media content and entertainment media content. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to process the information regarding the content and the information for facilitating a purchase of the copy of the content, the good, and/or the service. The apparatus also includes a display device for displaying information.

Claims

1. A media playing device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive media content and together with the media content information regarding the media content, the information regarding the media content comprising information identifying the media content and information for facilitating a purchase of a copy of the media content, the information for facilitating the purchase of the copy of the media content comprising price of the copy of the media content;

media playing device equipment configured to play the media content;

an input device configured to enable a user of the media playing device to enter a purchase request for the media content;

a processor configured to generate, in response to the user entering the purchase request for the media content, a purchase request message identifying the media content and an account associated with the user of the media playing device, the account not being associated with the media playing device;

a transmitter coupled to the input device, wherein the processor and the transmitter are configured to send the purchase request message to a central processing facility for processing of the purchase request message whereby the user purchases the copy of the media content in response to the purchase request.

2. The media playing device of claim 1, wherein the media content is broadcast and the receiver is a broadcast receiver configured to receive the media content as a broadcast.

3. The media playing device of claim 2, further comprising a display, wherein the processor is configured to display on the display, during playing of the media content, at least part of the information regarding the media content.

4. A method of purchasing media content, the method comprising:

receiving by a media playing device the media content and, together with the media content, information regarding the media content, the information regarding the media content being multiplexed with the media content, the information regarding the media content comprising information identifying the media content and information for facilitating a purchase of a copy of the media content, the information for facilitating the purchase of the copy of the media content comprising price of the copy of the media content;

playing by the media playing device the media content received at the media playing device;

receiving from a user of the media playing device, through an input device of the media playing device, a purchase request for the media content;

generating, in response to receiving from the user the purchase request for the media content, a purchase request message identifying the media content and an account associated with the user, the account not being associated with the media playing media playing device;

transmitting from the media playing device to a central processing facility the purchase request message for the media content, thereby placing an order for the media content.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying on the media playing device the information regarding the media content received at the media playing device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of transmitting and the step of displaying are performed during the step of playing.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of receiving the media content comprises receiving broadcast content.

8. A method of facilitating purchase of media content, the method comprising:

transmitting the media content to a media playing device;

transmitting to the media playing device information regarding the media content during the step of transmitting the media content, wherein the media content and the information regarding the media content are transmitted together and wherein the information regarding the media content comprises information identifying the media content and information for facilitating a purchase of a copy of the media content, the information for facilitating the purchase of the cony of the media content comprising price of the copy of the media content;

in response to the steps of transmitting the media content and transmitting information regarding the media content, receiving from the media playing device a purchase request message, the purchase request message identifying the media content and an account associated with a user of the media playing device, the account not being associated with the media playing device; and

consummating a transaction involving the media content, whereby an order is placed for the media content to be delivered to the user of the media playing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of consummating comprises arranging, by a central processing facility, payment for the media content from the account.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of transmitting the media content comprises broadcasting the media content.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information regarding the media content is multiplexed with the media content.

12. A method comprising:

broadcasting media content and, together with the media content, information regarding an item selected from a group consisting of a good and a service, the information regarding the item comprising information identifying the item and information for facilitating a purchase of the item, the information for facilitating the purchase of the item comprising price of the item;

in response to the step of broadcasting, receiving from the media playing device a purchase request message, the purchase request message identifying the item and an account of a user of the media playing device, the account not being associated with the media playing device; and

arranging payment for the item from the account.

13. An apparatus for facilitating a purchase in conjunction with media content information, the apparatus comprising a processor, a memory device, a receiver, and a transmitter, wherein the apparatus is configured to:

store information for processing of a purchase request message for at least one of a copy of media content, a good, and a service;

broadcast the media content and, together with the media content, information regarding said at least one of the copy of said media content, the good, and the service, wherein the information regarding said at least one of the copy of said media content, the good, and the service comprises information identifying said at least one of the copy of said media content, the good, and the service and information for facilitating a purchase of said at least one of the copy of said media content, the good, and the service, the information for facilitating the purchase of said at least one of the copy of said media content, the good, and the service comprising price of the said at least one of the copy of said media content, the good, and the service;

receive the purchase request message from a media playing device associated with a user, the purchase request message comprising an identification of an account of the user and the information identifying said at least one of the copy of said media content, the good, and the service, the account not being associated with the media playing device;

process said purchase request message; and

generate a message containing information relating to the purchase request message.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said information for processing comprises an identifier of the media playing device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said purchase request message further comprises information regarding an account associated with the media playing device.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further configured to processes a payment for said at least one of the copy of said media content, the good, and the service.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further configured to cause the transmitter to transmit the message to the media playing device associated with the user.

18. A method for facilitating a purchase in conjunction with media content information, the method comprising:

storing at a central processing facility information for processing of a purchase request message for a service;

broadcasting the media content and, together with the media content, information regarding the service, wherein the information regarding the service comprises information identifying the service and information for facilitating a purchase of the service, the information for facilitating the purchase of the service comprising price of the service;

receiving, in response to the step of broadcasting, the purchase request message from a media playing device associated with a user, the purchase request message comprising the information identifying the service and information identifying an account of the user, the account not being associated with the media playing device;

processing said purchase request message; and

generating an order confirmation message containing information relating to the purchase request message.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting the order confirmation message to the media playing device.